Climate & Community Institute

Great points from @cplusci on why we should be challenging unconstrained AI data center energy demands instead of pretending that there are sustainable solutions to their profligate, rapidly expanding resource consumption

Everyone is asking *how* the grid can accommodate data center expansion. But we should be asking whether we can do it at all. Our Energy and Industrial Policy Manager Winston Yau explains how and why we need to put democratic planning of our grid—and economy—back on the agenda.👇

“Security cannot be achieved through force projection in the Gulf. But in the meantime, the people of Iran & working-class communities across the world will continue to suffer the consequences of US fossil energy dominance” 🖋️ @patrickmbigger & @cashmank_ break-down.org/oil-war-ii/

Read CCI’s policy experts in @thenation on why the US spending trillions not on mitigation or reducing emissions, but expanding the US military and its resource grabs is bad climate policy that will make the climate crisis worse.

“These militarized approaches undermine the cooperation, coordination & multilateralism essential to solving climate crisis ... diverting attention away, causing harm & undermining the strategies we actually need.” Lorah Steichen quoted in @thenation 👇 thenation.com/article/enviro…

Argentina, Bolivia & Chile contain over half global lithium resources. Once Kast assumes the Chilean presidency, all three will be governed by right-wing leaders. What are the implications? I’m in @FinancialTimes to analyze this major political reversal ft.com/content/0276e5…

The US–Israeli attack on Iran will deepen the cost of living crisis. The last energy shock cost Europe $1.8tn. Europe’s leaders have backed the illegal war that may cause the next shock. The transatlantic alliance is Europe’s trillion dollar bill. 🧵 transitionsecurity.org/trillion-dolla…

Done right, a massive social housing investment in Queens could create modern green homes for the working class, spark green careers across construction sectors, and build resilient green energy networks to support the community. A triple win for housing, labor, & innovation.

Read the @jacobin article where he breaks this down further: jacobin.com/2026/02/trump-…

ICYMI: Watch our Transportation and Policy Manager Emmett Hopkins on @HoustonPubMedia talking about how Trump's threats to cut transit funding will hurt both red and blue states: youtube.com/live/dCT9DSrnS…

In NYC, housing affordability hinges on housing quality & readiness for a changing climate. In a new memo w/@nycpolicyforum, we lay out a framework for a public retrofit program to deliver whole home repairs at scale for both affordability and habitability nycpolicyforum.substack.com/cp/189267002

"Green New Scam": The right blames the GND for everything from immigration to trade as an excuse to go all in on fossil fuels. Dems need a climate agenda that will make life better, reign in the private sector, beat back fascism, and build public goods. climatecommunityinstitute.substack.com/p/affordabilit…

"Ratepayer Pledge": Trump admitted that the US grid can't power data centers as is, so they'll bring their own energy. But an uncoordinated, market-based approach makes people pay higher utility bills for private benefit: dataforclimateprogress.substack.com/cp/177588181

During last night's SOTU, we heard that Dems and the "Green New Scam" are making working people's lives worse. But Trump's plans and promises are *actually* what's making life more expensive and more dangerous. Here are three reasons why:👇

When voters are asked to rank abstract issues against each other, “climate” seems to lose to “cost of living.” But the real question is whether voters want policies that tackle the climate crisis while delivering material benefits. The evidence says yes. Link 👇

Do you want to work in the New York City government under Mayor Zohran Mamdani? Progressive Talent Pipeline: NYC Edition is building a resume bank of candidates for New York City government roles! Priority deadline Feb 1: …gressivetalentpipeline.applytojob.com/apply/1P8f1Xgi…